As the sole competitor for the Colorado College swimming and diving team at last weekend’s Grinnell Invitational, sophomore diver Mary Rose Donahue felt the pressure competing against teams from all three divisions. Donahue and her coach, Ellen Walker, feel confident about the diver’s results. Both agree that it was an important step on the road to the quickly approaching regionals.
On the first day, Donahue placed second in the 3-meter competition, earning just 2.7 points shy of the winning first place score. On the second day, Donahue continued her impressive performance, earning fourth place in the 1-meter event.
“I was able to compete several newer dives with harder degrees of difficulty as well as use the boards that I am going to be using at the NCAA diving regional that is coming up next month. It was a tremendous opportunity that I was lucky to have,” said Donahue.
“It was a good opportunity to travel to the site of the regional competition and compete against some strong teams including some DI competition,” said Walker.
Despite the unusual circumstance of traveling as a lone team member with only her coach as support, Donahue insists that the pressure does not get to her, especially because she is able to feel her team’s encouragement from across state lines.
“I was lucky enough to have the support of the CC swim and dive team through Snapchat, texts, and emotional support,” said Donahue. “Competing as the lone athlete from your college is certainly an isolating experience, especially when confronted with larger teams surrounding you in the pool. The pressure is definitely caused by myself. Though I don’t show it outwardly, inwardly I care a lot about my performance as well as making my coach as well as myself proud.”
Perhaps it is this unique coach-athlete relationship that pushes Donahue toward her success. Donahue calls her coach “an incredible pillar of support during practice and meets.” Walker also feels their bond as the team of two travels the country.
“I enjoy working with Mary Rose very much,” said Walker. “In addition to the technical pieces that we work on with her diving, I think we are able to communicate well about things away from the pool to keep her balanced and fresh for great performances on the board and in the classroom.”
The future looks bright for Donahue, especially with Walker by her side. “[Mary Rose] gained great experience as a freshman last year at the regional meet, and I think she has a chance to move from participant to national qualifier,” said Walker.
Donahue now has the chance to return the NCAA regionals once again to prove herself and move onto nationals. Both coach and athlete are confident in the diver’s future. “I have high hopes for the regional meet as well as aspirations to qualify for nationals this year,” said Donahue. For now, only time will tell as the regional championship looms less than a month away.